This research aimed to address the gap in
evidence-based treatment available for cancer survivors who are experiencing
cognitive dysfunction. As an initial feasibility study for a new intervention,
based on cognitive behavioural and cognitive rehabilitation principles,
relatively broad inclusion criteria were used. Three groups of adults were
recruited: an intervention group of 23 cancer survivors who completed a 4-week
group cognitive rehabilitation treatment, a comparison group of 9 cancer
survivors, and a matched community sample of 23 adults who had never
experienced cancer. The manualised “ReCog” intervention was developed by the
authors for this study and was delivered by a clinical health psychologist and
a provisionally registered psychologist, in small groups of 4-8 participants.
The two comparison groups completed assessments but did not receive the
intervention. We expected that the intervention would have its greatest impact
on subjective cognitive function, which often shows a mismatch with objective
cognitive function. However, interestingly, the intervention showed relatively
large effect sizes in objective cognitive improvement, even after correction
for practice effects demonstrated by the comparison groups. Potential
mechanisms for these findings will be discussed. A replication using a more
rigorous randomised trial is currently underway.